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The contract hasn't been awarded to anyone yet, but expect J.F. Shea Construction to scoop it up on June 3, when Redding city councilors meet.

J.F. Shea's apparent low bid came in at $12.5 million to build the first phase of the large-parcels-ready-to-go Stillwater Business Park this year. The city engineer had estimated the cost at $17 million.

More than 80 companies took out spec sheets after the city began inviting sealed bids April 18. The bids were opened May 22. Groundbreaking should start June 12, Jim Zauher, the city's economic development director, said today.

He said he's glad that after years of waiting, the project is going forward, and he hopes detractors can find a way to be supportive.

He said the only other regional competition for large-parcel sites -- Metro Air Park near Sacramento -- has been stalled by flood-plain concerns.

J.F. Shea is an enormous company with roots in Redding and divisions all over California and elsewhere. It helped build, among other things, Golden Gate Bridge, Hoover Dam and the Bay Area Rapid Transit system, or BART.

Meanwhile, look for the Stillwater web site placeholder to get an overhaul in the next three weeks. The city hired EDSuite.com to develop the site because it specializes in economic development web architecture and offers instant comparison gadgets "so companies can compare apples to apples," Zauher said, including regularly updated community profiles with demographics, and an online proposal system.